Experiences

Get up close and personal with science when you get hands on in one of our labs or theater. From meeting a skink to learning about hurricanes, there are experiences around every corner to help you learn more about the world around you.

Holidays at the Museum

Model trains, fruitcake, confetti and more! Join us as we celebrate the season with loads of science fun!

Daily Demonstrations

Animal Lab

Come face-to-face with reptiles and amphibians in Virginia ecosystems in Animal Lab. From scorpions to beetles to snakes, guests can see dozens of live animals and learn more about how the eat, sleep and live.

Art Lab

Get creative as you mix science and art in the Art Lab. The Museum provides the materials and suggested activities and you provide the imagination! Activities may change by time of year or other programming throughout the Museum.

Eco Lab

Eco Lab is big on all things ecology! From insect and butterfly specimens, to rocks and minerals, there’s plenty to see. There’s also interactive elements, such as the urban heat island temperature measurement station and the touch-screen water quiz. But the part that keeps guests buzzing is the observational honeybee hive. Guests get a front-row seat as bees actively collect pollen, make honey and even do the interesting waggle dance.

The MiX

The MiX is free and open to teens 13-18 years old. Teens can become a MiX member to participate in workshops, work on creative projects or just hang out until they get inspired. MiX members work with mentors to learn more about 3D design, robotics, electronics, computer science and more.

Rat Basketball

Meet our Rat Basketball team and learn about operant and classical conditioning as you watch two rats play basketball – no, we aren’t kidding. Check the daily schedule for demonstrations occurring during your visit.

Science on a Sphere

The Museum’s Science On a Sphere® is suspended in the Cottrell Theater in the back of Speed on the First Level. Here Museum Educators use data sets from NOAA to bring science to life. Learn the basics of weather and seasonal changes, uncover the difference between weather and climate, see where volcanoes are located, watch earthquakes happen in near real-time and more! Check the daily schedule for demonstrations occurring during your visit.